Energy information system and sub-measurement board for use therewith

ABSTRACT

An energy information system and sub-measurement board for use therewith allows an energy information service provider to measure energy usage at a customer location. The sub-measurement board is connected to an energy distribution panel located at the customer location and measures energy usage of individual circuits of the distribution panel. The sub-measurement board outputs a load profile that is accessible by the customer. The sub-measurement board receives three three-phase voltages and nine single-phase currents. The voltages and currents are compared to the voltages and currents of the same individual circuit of the distribution panel to calculate the load profile of the individual circuits. A utility meter can be connected to the sub-measurement board and output electric pulses thereto which the sub-measurement board uses to calculate cumulative periodic consumption data of the metered utility.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/940,400, filed Aug. 27, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,728,646, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/027,545, filed Feb.23, 1998, now abandoned, both of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

Generally, the invention relates to a communications enabled energyinformation system and sub-measurement board for use therewith.Particularly, the invention relates to an energy information systemhaving a sub-measurement board which measures power consumption ofindividual circuits of a customer's distribution load panel and which iscapable of providing cumulative periodic consumption data of thecustomer's other metered utilities. Specifically, the invention relatesto an energy information system which transmits load profile data ofindividual electric circuits back to the energy information serviceprovider for processing into a format which is accessible by the energyinformation service provider for internal use and accessible by thecustomer for monitoring energy usage of specific circuit loads such asheating, air-conditioning, lighting, etc, and which can provide thecustomer with cumulative periodic consumption data of all the customer'smetered utilities such as electric, gas and water.

2. Background Information

Typically utility companies send their customers a single invoice fortotal utility usage for a monthly period. However, customers may wish toreceive more detailed utility data which would allow the customer tomonitor specific circuits or areas of utility consumption. By providinga more detailed utility usage report, the energy information serviceprovider can assist the customer in more fully understanding thecustomer's energy consumption patterns and ways to change these patternsto reduce utility usage and the monthly costs thereof.

If the customer has access to energy consumption information forspecific circuits, such as the circuit providing energy to heating,air-conditioning, lighting, etc., the customer can work with the energyinformation service provider in analyzing this usage data. For example,by analyzing this consumption data, the customer may discover that aparticular piece of equipment is inefficient and using an excessiveamount of energy. The customer may wish to replace that equipment with anewer, more energy efficient unit. Also, the customer may discover thatthe energy consumption of other equipment could be minimized to reducethe number of hours the equipment runs thus decreasing energyconsumption by the equipment and the energy costs thereof.

Additionally, if the customer can monitor the cumulative usage of all ofhis or her utilities for a given period, the customer may discover thathe or she is using an excessive amount of water, gas or electric duringa given month. The customer can look at this cumulative periodicconsumption data and make an effort to reduce the usage for theremainder of the month to prevent the water, gas or electric bill frombeing too high.

Several sub-metering boards have been developed which monitor energyusage of specific circuits. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,591,988discloses an energy cost allocation method and system which receivesinformation from individual apartments and forwards the information to amain computer. The main computer provides an output display whichdisplays the individual power usage or requirement. The computer isattached to a phone line which transmits the information to a centralcomputer for billing purposes.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,675,828 discloses an energy cost allocation system forallocating energy use among a plurality of heat exchange terminals. Asingle system provides a cyclic polling of each monitor unit at acorresponding unique address with each monitor providing to the controla signal indicative of the operation of the driving unit. The controlcalculates the energy cost per unit time for each monitored unit basedon the operating time and speed of each motor.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,804,957 discloses a utility meter and submetering systemwhich provides multiple meters multiplexed through a data collectioncomputer which, in turn, is networked with other data collectioncomputers to a central billing computer.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,404,136 discloses a method and apparatus for monitoringthe consumption of utilities in business premises. A central computerreceives consumption data from individual notional zones, each of whichincludes a utility load and a meter to record consumption within thezone. The computer calculates the total utility consumption with thezones of a group and supplies control data to the zones for controllingutility consumption. A single loss monitoring device records the totallosses which occur between a point and the utility loads and the zones.The loss monitoring device transfers this information to the computer.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,491,473 discloses a system for remote data collecting,method implemented in this system and data collector device. The remotedata collection relates specifically to energy consumption for supplysites and demand sites management. The device provides a plurality oflocal collection sites as well as a data acquisition site positionedadjacent to each data collection sites. Data acquisitions sites areattached to one another via a local network and each local network isthen connected to a central site via a second wide area network. Thecentral collection site compromises central monitoring and processingdevices for retrieving and transmitting data.

Although these devices and methods are adequate for the purposes forwhich they are intended, these inventions do not disclose an energyinformation system and sub-measurement board for use therewith whichmonitors and provides information about individual circuits of acustomer's distribution load panel and able to provide cumulativeperiodic consumption data of all of the customer's metered utilities.

Therefore, the need exists for an energy information system andsub-measurement board for use therewith which measures individualcircuits of a customer's distribution load panel, which transmits thisload profile data back to the energy information service provider, whichprovides this information to the customer in an easily accessible andreadable format, and which also provides cumulative periodic consumptiondata for all of the customer's metered utilities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Objectives of the present invention include providing an energyinformation system and sub-measurement board for use therewith whichprovides accurate energy consumption information for pro-active energymanagement.

A further objective is to provide a system and sub-measurement boardwhich measures individual utility loads and posts this load profile datafor access by the customer.

Another objective is to provide a system and sub-measurement board whichprovides this load profile data to the customer in a format which iseasy to read and analyze.

A still further objective is to provide a system and sub-measurementboard in which the sub-measurement board resides at the customer'slocation and which transmits the load profile data back to a server orwebsite for processing and posting thereby.

A further objective is to provide a system and sub-measurement boardwhich utilizes circuitry and software to measure the load profile data,transmit the load profile data to the energy information serviceprovider and post the data on a server or other type of communicationdevice for access by the customer.

Another objective is to provide a system and sub-measurement board inwhich the load profile data transmitted can be used by the energyinformation service provider for engineering, billing, customerinformation systems, marketing, etc.

A further objective is to provide a system and sub-measurement boardwhich is capable of providing cumulative periodic usage of all of thecustomer's metered utilities.

Another objective is to provide a system and sub-measurement board whichmatches a current signal with a voltage signal of the same circuit tocalculate accurate energy consumption.

A still further objective is to provide a system and sub-measurementboard of simple construction, which achieves the stated objectives in asimple, effective and inexpensive manner, which solves problems andsatisfies needs existing in the art.

These objectives and advantages are achieved by the energy informationsystem and sub-measurement board for use therewith, the general natureof which may be stated as including a sub-measurement board whichreceives voltage and current signals representative of energy usage atthe discrete location, said sub measurement board outputs a load profileof said energy usage; a first communications network which transfers theload profile to the energy information service provider; a processorlocated at the energy information service provider which processes theload profile; and a second communications network which provides thecustomer access to the processed load profile for remote viewing of theload profile by the customer.

These objectives and advantages are further achieved by the method ofthe present invention, the general nature of which may be stated asincluding the steps of inputting a voltage signal from one of aplurality of the individual circuits of the distribution panel into asub-measurement board; inputting a current signal from one of theplurality of individual circuits of the distribution panel into thesub-measurement board; comparing the voltage signal to the currentsignal to determine whether the voltage signal is connected to the sameindividual circuit of the distribution panel as the current signal; andcalculating the energy information of the individual circuit of thedistribution panel when the individual circuit of the voltage signalmatches the individual circuit of the current signal.

These objectives and advantages are further achieved by thesub-measurement board of the present invention, the general nature ofwhich may be stated as including a voltage amplifying circuit connectedto a voltage terminal of the distribution panel for receiving an inputvoltage signal, said voltage amplifying circuit amplifies the inputvoltage signal and outputs an amplified voltage signal; a currentamplifying circuit connected to a current terminal of the distributionpanel for receiving an input current signal, said current amplifyingcircuit amplifies the input current signal and outputs an amplifiedcurrent signal; a switching circuit connected to the current amplifyingcircuit for receiving the amplified current signal, said switchingcircuit outputs a switched amplified current signal; ananalog-to-digital converter connected to the voltage amplifying circuitand the switching circuit for converting the amplified voltage signalinto a digital voltage signal and for converting the switched amplifiedcurrent signal to a digital current signal; a microprocessor connectedto the analog-to-digital converter for receiving the digital voltagesignal and the digital current signal, said microprocessor calculatesthe load data of individual circuits of the energy distribution panel;and an output device for outputting the calculated load data of theindividual circuits of the energy distribution panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrative of the best modein which Applicants have contemplated applying the principals, is setforth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and isparticularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appendedclaims.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the sub-measurement board of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the energy information system andsub-measurement board for use therewith of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic elevational view of a three phase distributionpanel with the sub-measurement board connected thereto;

FIG. 4 is block diagram of the sub-measurement circuit board shownattached to three 3-phase voltages and nine single-phase currents of thedistribution panel;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the interconnection of FIGS. 5A-5F;

FIG. 5A is schematic diagram showing the three 3-phase voltages beinginput into respective voltage input amplifier circuits;

FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram showing the nine single-phase currentsbeing input into respective current amplifier circuits;

FIG. 5C is a schematic diagram showing the signals output from thecircuits of FIGS. 5A and 5B being input into analog multiplexer andanalog-to-digital converter circuitry;

FIG. 5D is a schematic diagram showing code flash, SRAM and real timeclock circuitry;

FIG. 5E is a schematic diagram showing the central processing unit ofthe sub-measurement board;

FIG. 5F is a schematic diagram showing optically isolated discrete I/Ocircuitry, and serial and LCD port circuitry; and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the method of calculating energyinformation.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The energy information system of the present invention is shown in FIG.2 and is indicated at 1. Energy information system 1 allows an energyinformation service provider 4 to measure power consumption ofindividual circuits at a customer location 6 and transmit this data backto power company 4 via a wide area network (WAN) 8. A sub-measurementboard 10 resides at customer location 6 and is connected to thecustomer's electric distribution panel 14, as well as the customer'svarious utility meters, such as an electric meter 16, a gas meter 18 anda water meter 20. Sub-measurement board 10 is used to measure theindividual electric circuits within distribution panel 14 and provideenergy information service provider 4 with a load profile of themeasured energy consumption data. The load profile data includes suchmeasurements as volts, amperes, watts, VARS or any other electricalmeasurement data which may be useful in determining power consumption.Sub-measurement board 10 is also connected to electric meter 16, gasmeter 18 and water meter 20 and receives electric pulses therefrom.Sub-measurement board 10 processes this information and provides thecustomer with a cumulative real-time measurement of the usage of therespective utilities.

In accordance with one of the features of the invention, the loadprofile data measured by sub-measurement board 10 is transmitted betweenenergy information service provider 4 and customer location 6 by WAN 8.WAN 8 provides two-way communication between energy information serviceprovider 4 and customer location 6 and may include such media as an RFtransmitter/receiver 32, a telephone or fiber optic line 34 or satellitenetwork 36. WAN 8 supplies the load profile data to a gateway platform40 located at power company 4. Gateway platform 40 functions as aninteractive server which hosts the software and databases needed totranslate the load profile data into a readable and usable format. Theload profile data may be output by gateway platform 40 in the form oftext reports, charts and graphs which the customer may access using WAN8.

Sub-measurement board 10 supplies the load profile data to any or all ofWAN's 8 for transmission of the load profile data to energy informationservice provider 4. RF transmitter/receiver 32 receives the load profiledata from sub-measurement board 10, converts the data to a digitalformat and sends the data to an antenna 44. The data is received byanother antenna 46 which transfers the data to gateway platform 40.

Alternatively, sub-measurement board 10 may transmit the load profiledata to a modem which utilizes existing telephone lines 34 to supply theload profile data to gateway platform 40. The data is received andprocessed by gateway platform 40 and is available for the customer toaccess using a personal computer either through a direct dial number orthe internet.

Further, sub-measurement board 10 may transmit the load profile datausing satellite network 36. An interface box (not shown) processes thedata and transmits the processed data to a satellite. An intermediatesatellite provider receives the load profile data from the satellite,processes the data and supplies the data to gateway platform 40. Gatewayplatform 40 processes or massages the data into a readable format andprovides this data to LAN 42 as well as posting the information foraccess by the customer.

This processed load profile data is available to the customer in text,charts or graph format and may be accessed by the customer through apassword protected internet server. In addition to providing theinformation through the internet, the customer may utilize any of WAN's8. For example, the processed load profile data may be transmitted byantenna 46 back to antenna 44 and RF transmitter/receiver 32 in anencrypted format allowing the customer to access the information using apersonal computer and decoding program. Further, the customer mayutilize satellite network 36 in a manner similar but opposite to thatdescribed above to download and analyze the load profile data.

In accordance with another of the features of the invention,sub-measurement board 10 is shown in FIG. 3 attached to distributionpanel 14. Distribution panel 14 includes a plurality of circuit breakers50 which distribute the electricity from power company 4 to variousindividual circuits 51 of customer location 6. As described above,sub-measurement board 10 allows the customer and energy informationservice provider 4 to monitor energy consumption by certain ofindividual circuits 51. The customer may choose to monitor any ofindividual circuits 51 based on the particular area of location 6 or ona particular piece of equipment or device, such as heating,air-conditioning, lighting, etc.

In the preferred embodiment, sub-measurement board 10 is able to measureup to nine single-phase currents 52 and three 3-phase voltages 56. Inaddition to the nine single-phase currents 52 and three 3-phase voltages56, sub-measurement board 10 is shown in FIG. 3 connected to theelectric, gas and water meters by a line 58 which receives the electricpulses from the meters for measurement of the cumulative utilityconsumption from each respective meter. This instantaneous total billingload data from the electric, gas and water meters may be directlyaccessed by the customer on a LCD display 60 (FIG. 1). The customer mayuse a mode key 62, function keys 64 or selection keys 66 to select anddisplay various usage information such as the billing load data.Sub-measurement board 10 is enclosed within a plastic covering 68 and ismounted adjacent to and outside of distribution panel 14. Acommunication device 69, such as a modem, is connected tosub-measurement board 10 for supplying the load profile data to WAN 8.

The circuitry included within sub-measurement board 10 is shown in FIG.4 and generally includes current input amplifier circuitry 70 andvoltage input amplifier circuitry 74 which output current and voltagesignals, respectively, to a switching matrix circuit 78. Switchingmatrix circuitry 78 outputs an analog data signal to an A/D converter.The voltage signals from voltage input amplifier circuitry 74 areapplied directly to the analog inputs of the A/D converter. A memorycircuit 82 is connected to a microprocessor controller or centralprocessing unit (CPU) 88 which processes the data stored from memorycircuitry 82 and outputs the load profile load data to LCD display 60and WAN 8 for transfer to power company 4. Microprocessor 88 is alsoconnected back to switching matrix circuitry 78 for controlling which ofcurrents 52 and voltages 56 are output to memory circuitry 82.

Voltage input amplifier circuitry 74 includes three voltage amplifiercircuits 96 (FIG. 5A) which receive an input voltage signal from arespective voltage transformer 97. Each voltage amplifier circuit 96includes an instrumentation amplifier 100 which receives a positiveinput 102 and a negative input 104 from one of three-phase circuits 56.Positive and negative inputs 102 and 104, respectively, areinterconnected by a zener diode 106. A resistor 108 extends betweenpositive input 102 and ground, and negative input 104 and ground and isconnected to each input line 102 and 104 between instrumentationamplifier 100 and zener diode 106. Instrumentation amplifiers 100 arepowered by a positive supply voltage V+ and a negative supply voltageV−. A capacitor 110 extends between each supply voltage V+ and V− andground. Voltage amplifier circuits 96 output voltage signals VIN1-VIN3to switching matrix circuitry 78.

Current input amplifier circuitry 70 includes nine input amplifiercircuits 120 (FIG. 5B) which receive a representative current signalfrom the secondary winding of a respective current transformer 121. Eachcurrent amplifier circuit 120 includes an instrumentation amplifier 124which receives a positive input 126 and a negative input 128 from one ofthe nine single-phase circuits 52. Positive and negative inputs 126 and128, respectively, are interconnected by a zener diode 130. A resistor132 extends between positive input 126 and ground, and negative input128 and ground and is connected to each input line 126 and 128 betweenoperational amplifier 124 and zener diode 130. Another resistor 134extends between the RG1 and RG2 inputs of operational amplifier 124.Operational amplifiers 124 are powered by a positive supply voltage V+and a negative supply voltage V−. A capacitor 136 extends between eachsupply voltage V+ and V− and ground. Current amplifier circuits 120output current signals IIN1-IIN9 to switching matrix circuitry 78.

In the preferred embodiment, amplifiers 100 and 124 are low cost, highaccuracy instrumentation amplifiers, such as model AD620 manufactured byAnalog Devices of Norwood, Mass. The gain of op amps 124 is determinedby the valuation of resistor 134 which in the preferred embodiment isequal to 5.49 kΩ, thus producing a gain in current amplifiers circuits120 of 9.998.

Voltage amplifier circuits 96 and current amplifier circuits 120 outputa signal VIN1-VIN3 and IIN1-IIN9, respectively, to switching matrixcircuit 78. Switching matrix circuit 78 includes a monolithic analogmultiplexer 140, a monolithic CMOS STDT switch 142 and a 4-channelsimultaneous sampling, 12-bit data acquisition system oranalog-to-digital (A/D) converter 160. Because multiplexer 140 includesonly eight input terminals, signals IIN8 and IIN9 are input into switch142 which switches between and outputs one of the two signals tomultiplexer 140. Switch 142 includes a positive supply voltage V+, anegative supply voltage V− and a logic supply voltage VCC. A capacitor144 extends between each supply voltage and ground. An input/output lineIO6 is connected to a logic control terminal of switch 142 and connectsswitch 142 to microprocessor 88. Switch 142 has a drain terminal 146which functions as an output to analog multiplexer 140. Switch 142 isgrounded at 147.

Analog multiplexer 140 includes eight input channels which are connectedto output signals IIN1-IIN7 of current amplifier circuits 120 and outputterminal 146 of switch 142. Multiplexer 140 switches one of these eightinputs to a common output 148 depending on the state of 3 binaryaddresses D0, D1 and D2, and an enable input EN which is connected tologic supply voltage VCC. A data line CS9 extends between a writeterminal WR of multiplexer 140 and microprocessor 88. A most positivesupply voltage V+ and a most negative supply voltage V− are connected tomultiplexer 140 with a capacitor 150 connected between the supplyvoltages and ground. Multiplexer 140 is grounded at line 152.

A/D converter 160 receives output signals VIN1-VIN3 from voltageamplifier circuits 96 along with output 148 of multiplexer 140, andoutputs a 12-bit digital signal (D0-D11) to a 16-bit digital data lineD(15:0). A/D converter 160 requires two positive supply voltage inputswhich are tied together and connected to a positive voltage V+. A pairof capacitive circuits 162 and 163 are connected between positive supplyvoltage V+ and A/D converter 160 with capacitive circuit 162 connectedto an analog ground 164 and capacitive circuit 163 connected to adigital ground 166. A/D/converter 160 further requires a negative supplyvoltage V− which includes a capacitive circuit 168 similar to capacitivecircuit 162 and also connected to analog ground 164. Negative supplyvoltage V− is connected to the clock input CLK of A/D converter 160 toenable an internal laser trimmed clock oscillator. A voltage referenceinput VREFIN and a voltage reference output VREFOUT of converter 160 areconnected to one another allowing converter 160 to operate with internalreference. The analog and digital ground terminals of A/D converter 160are connected to analog ground 164 and digital ground 166, respectively,with a resistor 174 extending therebetween. A chip select terminal and aread terminal of A/D converter 160 are tied together end connected tomicroprocessor 88 by a chip select line CS8.

Memory circuitry 82 is connected to microprocessor 88 by 16-bit dataline D(15:0) and includes a real time clock 180, a code flash orerase/memory chip 182 and a pair of static random access memory chips(SRAM) 184 and 186. Real time clock 180 functions as an internalcomputer clock/calendar and has an embedded lithium battery and quartzcrystal which maintain the real time clock data in the absence of power.Clock 180 includes a multiplexed address/bus which connects to bitsD8-D15 of 16-bit data line D(15:0). Clock 180 further includes a chipselect terminal connected to microprocessor 88 by line 100, an addressstrobe terminal line connected to microprocessor 88 by line CS4, a datastrobe terminal connected to microprocessor 88 by line CS5, and aread/write input terminal connected to microprocessor 88 by line 101.Clock 180 is powered by positive supply voltage VCC.

Flash/memory chip 182 is a programmable memory chip which retains itsprogramming when power to the chip has been terminated and which may bereprogrammed by a standard external programmer. Flash/memory chip 182 isconnected to microprocessor 88 by 16-bit data line D(15:0) and by a19-bit address line A(18:0) and supplies both stored voltage and currentinformation as well as programmed instructions to the microprocessor.Addresses A1-A18 of 19-bit address line A(18:0) are connected to theinput address terminals A0-A17 of flash/memory chip 182 with addressterminal A18 of the chip connected to digital ground 166. A chip enableinput terminal of flash/memory chip 182 is connected to microprocessor88 via a CSBOOT line. Memory chip 182 is powered by positive supplyvoltage VCC with a resistor 183 connected between the supply voltage andchip 182. Memory chip 182 stores the voltage and current information forwhich is used by microprocessor 88 to calculate the load profile data.

SRAM chips 184 and 186 receive addresses A1-A17 of address line A(18:0)into address input terminals A0-A16 thereof. SRAM 184 receives data bitsD0-D7 of 16-bit data line D(15:0) into data input/output terminals D1-D8thereof. SRAM chip 186 receives data bits D8-D15 of 16-bit line D(15:0)into data input/output terminals D1-D8 thereof. Chip select 1 of eachSRAM chip 184 and 186 is attached to digital ground 166 while chipselect 2 of each SRAM chip 184 and 186 is connected to positive supplyvoltage VCC. An output enable terminal of each SRAM chip is connected tomicroprocessor 88 by chip select line CS3. A write enable terminal ofSRAM chips 184 and 186 is connected to microprocessor 88 by chip selectlines CS1 and CS2, respectively. Address bit A18 of address line A(18:0)is connected to positive supply voltage VCC with two resistors 188extending therebetween. The connection of chip select 2 of SRAM chips184 and 186 is taken from supply voltage VCC between resistors 188.

In the preferred embodiment, microprocessor 88 is a 32-bit modularmicro-controller, such as model MC68332 manufactured by Motorola, Inc.of Schaumburg, Ill. Microprocessor 88 inputs and outputs data onto16-bit data line D(15:0) and 19-bit address line A(18:0) and outputs aplurality of chip select lines CSBOOT, CS1-CS5 and CS7-CS10. The chipselect lines allow microprocessor 88 to control which chips ofsub-measurement board 10 write to data line D(15:0) and address lineA(18:0) at what time. By controlling the sequence of chip operationusing chip select lines CSBOOT, CS1-CS5 and CS7-CS10, the microprocessorcan assure that no two chips are writing to the common data and addresslines at the same time.

A plurality of timed processor unit terminals TPU3-TPU8 ofmicroprocessor 88 are connected to a keypad connector circuit 190 whichallows the customer to access the load profile data and meter datathrough mode key 62, function keys 64 and selection keys 66. Keypadconnector circuit 190 includes a 10 k network resistor bus 192 connectedto supply voltage VCC, and a seven pin jumper 194. A bus error terminalBERR, a breakpoint terminal BKPT, a freeze terminal FREEZE, and a pairof instruction pipeline terminals IFETCH and IPIPE are connected to aboot start-up or BDM connector circuit 200. BDM connector circuit 200includes a 5×2 pin jumper 202 and allows the initial softwareinstructions to be input into microprocessor 88 during the first bootstartup thereof. At the first boot-up of microprocessor 88 memory chips182, 184 and 186 are blank requiring microprocessor 88 to receive itsfirst set of programming instructions via BDM connector circuit 200.Thereafter, microprocessor 88 will receive its instructions fromflash/memory chip 182.

Microprocessor 88 further includes a clock circuit 210 which isconnected to a pair of crystal oscillator terminals EXTAL and XTAL.Clock circuit 210 includes a 32.768 KHz crystal 212 for supplyingmicroprocessor 88 with a standard reference frequency. A first resistor214 is connected between the two terminals of crystal 212 and a secondresistor 216 is connected between crystal 212 and terminal XTAL ofmicroprocessor 88. A capacitor 218 is connected between each terminal ofcrystal 212 and digital ground 166. Microprocessor 88 is powered by acircuit 220 which is connected to positive supply voltage VCC. Circuit220 includes an inductor 222 which is connected between the positivesupply voltage VCC and a voltage input terminal VDDSYN of microprocessor88, an external phase-locked loop filter capacitor 224 which isconnected between inductor 222 and a capacitor input terminal XFC ofmicroprocessor 88, and a resistor 226 which is connected betweenpositive supply voltage VCC and an external clock source terminal T2CLKof microprocessor 88.

Microprocessor 88 calculates the load profile data and outputs the datato a display circuit 248, an optically isolated discrete I/O circuit262, a modem and RS-232 circuit 282. Display circuit 248 includes a16-bit flip-flop 250 and a 16 pin jumper 252 which connects displaycircuit 248 to LCD display 60 and the various display drivers (notshown) associated therewith. Flip-flop 250 includes sixteen data inputterminals 1D1-1D8 and 2D1-1D2 which are connected to data bits D0-D7 andD8-D15, respectively, of 16-bit data line D(15:0), a pair of outputterminals OE1 and OE2 which are connected to digital ground 166, and apair of clock pulse input terminals CP1 and CP2 which are both connectedto microprocessor 88 by a chip select line CS7. Flip-flop 250 furtherincludes sixteen output terminals 1Q1-1Q8, which are connected to pins4-11 of jumper 252, and 2Q1-2Q8, the first three of which are connectedto pins 12-14 of jumper 252. A first pin 1 of jumper 252 is connected todigital ground 166, a second pin 2 of jumper 252 is connected topositive supply voltage VCC, and a third pin 3 of jumper 252 isconnected to a potentiometer circuit 254.

Outputs 2Q5-2Q8 of flip-flop 250 are connected to data inputs 2A1-2A4 ofan octal line driver/buffer 260 of optically isolated discrete I/Ocircuit 262. Driver/buffer 260 is connected to microprocessor 88 througha chip select line CS10. Discrete I/O circuit 262 receives theinput/output digital pulse data from electric meter 16, gas meter 18 andwater meter 20 and supplies this data to microprocessor 88 through busoutputs Y1-Y4, which are connected to bits D8-D11 of 16-bit data lineD(15:0). Discrete I/O circuit 262 further includes a pair of highisolation voltage SOP multi-photo couplers 270 and 272. Photo couplers270 and 272 are optically coupled isolators containing a GaAs lightemitting diode and an NPN cyclone photo transistor. Each photo coupleris mounted in a plastic small out-line package (SOP) having shieldeffect to cut off ambient light.

Photo coupler 270 isolates the input of meters 16, 18 and 20 intosub-measurement board 10 and includes four anode terminals A1-A4 whichare connected to one side of a 4×2 pin jumper 278. A resistor 276 isconnected between each anode terminal A1-A4 and jumper 278. Four cathodeterminals K1 K4 of photo coupler 270 are connected to the other side ofjumper 278. Photo coupler 270 further includes four collector terminalsC1-C4, all of which are connected to positive supply voltage VCC, andfour emitter terminals E1-E4 which are connected to data inputs 1A1-1A4of octal line driver/buffer 260. A resistor 280 is connected betweeneach emitter output of photo coupler 270 and digital ground 166.

Photo coupler 272 isolates the output of sub-measurement board 10 tometers 16, 18 and 20 and is connected within discrete I/O circuit 262 ina manner somewhat opposite of that of photo coupler 270. Collectorterminals C1-C4 of photo coupler 272 are connected to one side ofanother 4×2 pin jumper 279 with the other side of jumper 279 connectedto emitter terminals E1-E4 of photo coupler 272. Cathodes terminalsK1-K4 of photo coupler 272 are connected to digital ground 166 and anodeterminals Al-A4 are connected to bus outputs 2Y1-2Y4 of octal linedriver/buffer 260, respectively, to optically isolate the output tometers 16, 18 and 20. A resistor 281 extends between each anode terminalA1-A4 and driver/buffer 260.

In the preferred embodiment, sub-measurement board 10 outputs the loadprofile data through modem and RS-232 circuit 282 (FIG. 5E). Circuit 282includes a modem 284 and a RS-232 transceiver 294 which are connected to16-bit data line D(15:0) through an octal flip-flop 286 and an octalline driver/buffer 288. Flip-flop 286 and driver/buffer 288 both receivebits D8-D15 from 16-bit data line D(15:0) and connect to microprocessor88 through a chip select line CSO. A 10 k bussed network resistor 290 isconnected between the data inputs of driver/buffer 288 and positivesupply voltage VCC. Chip select line CSO connects to the clock input offlip-flop 286 and to an output enable terminal OE of driver/buffer 288.An output enable terminal OE of flip-flop 286 is also connected tomicroprocessor 88 by an input/output line IO7. Flip-flop 286 connects tomodem 284 through outputs Q0 and Q1 and to RS-232 transceiver 294through outputs Q2 and Q3. Driver/buffer 288 connects to modem 284through outputs 1A1-1A4 and to RS-232 transceiver 294 through outputs2A1 and 2A2. A resistor 296 extends between the output lines offlip-flop 286 and the positive supply voltage VCC.

In use, three-phase voltages 56 are input into voltage input amplifiercircuitry 74 from distribution panel 14. Each voltage amplifier circuit96 amplifies the input voltage and outputs this amplified voltage to itsrespective output line VIN1-VIN3. Likewise, voltages representingsingle-phase currents 52 are input into current input amplifiercircuitry 70 from distribution panel 14. Each current amplifier circuit120 amplifies the input voltage and outputs an amplified voltage signal.Currents 52 may be input from distribution panel 14 at a relatively highvalue thus creating a hazardous condition. Currents 52 are input throughcurrent transformers 121, the secondary windings of which provide arepresentative voltage signal to current amplifier circuitry 70. Thesecondary windings isolate the high currents from sub-measurement board10 thus drastically reducing any hazardous condition on sub-measurementboard 10. Current amplifier circuits 120 output the voltage signals tolines IIN1-IIN9 which are voltage signal that are representative of thecurrent inputs 52.

As stated above, analog multiplexer 140 can only receive eight inputs.Current signals 11IN8 and IIN9 are input into switch 142 which outputsone of the two signals depending on the instruction input frommicroprocessor 88 through line 106. Microprocessor 88 instructsmultiplexer 140 to output one of current signals IIN1-IIN9 to A/Dconverter 160 based upon the value of lines D0-D2 input into multiplexer140. In the preferred embodiment, microprocessor 88 will instructmultiplexer 14 to continuously sequence through current signalsIIN1-IIN9 alternately outputting a switched current signals to A/Dconverter 160 during each cycle.

A/D converter 160 receives the switched current signal chosen bymultiplexer 140 and the three voltage signals VIN1-VIN3 and convertsthese four voltages to a 12-bit digital signal D0-D11. A/D converter 160outputs the digital signal onto 16-bit data line D(15:0) where it isinput to flash/memory chip 182. Flash/memory chip 182 is divided intotwo memory segments. A first memory segment stores the programming codenecessary to operate microprocessor 88 and SRAM chips 184 and 186. Asecond memory segment is used to store the current and voltage signalsuntil the signal are used by microprocessor 88 to calculate the loadprofile data. SRAM chips 184 and 186 receive the current and voltagedata along with software instructions from flash/memory chip 182necessary to calculate energy usage data such as Wafts and VARS. Clock180 keeps real time including hours, minutes, seconds, and calendar dayswith leap year compensation. Clock 180 is synchronized to an AC voltageto keep accurate time.

In accordance with another of the features of the invention, byconstantly inputting voltage signal VIN1-VIN3 and cycling throughcurrent signals IN1-IIN9, sub-measurement board 10 is able to match aparticular current with its current voltage to output actual andaccurate real-time voltage, current and power data. The software storedwithin flash/memory chip 182 allows microprocessor 88 and SRAM chips 184and 186 to correctly correlate a given current signal with itsrespective voltage signal. When the current signal is received bymicroprocessor 88 the current signal is compared with each of thevoltage signals providing a matched current and voltage and thusaccurate energy consumption calculations.

Microprocessor 88 controls the chip select lines to synchronize thereading and writing of the 16-bit data line D(15:0) and 19-bit addressline A(18:0). Flash/memory chip 182 loads the program data intomicroprocessor 88 necessary for microprocessor 88 to read the voltageand current data from the memory chips, calculate the energy loadprofile data and store the calculated data back into the memory chips.

Optically isolated discrete I/O circuit 262 isolates the circuitry ofsub-measurement board 10 from outside electric and magnetic fields towhich sub-measurement board 10 may be exposed. Sub-measurement board ismounted adjacent distribution panel 14 and will be exposed to variouselectrical switching and power surges. Electric pulses from electricmeter 16, gas meter 18 and water meter 20 are input into jumper 278 andphoto coupler 270. The meter data is then transferred to the memorychips until accessed by microprocessor 88. The meter data is output frommicroprocessor 88 and is output through display circuit 248 to LCD 60when sub-measurement board 10 is prompted therefor by the customer orother user. The load profile data is transferred to modem 284 where itis output to WAN 8 as described above. RS-232 transceiver 294 may beattached to a computer and provides a port for the software instructionsto be loaded into flash/memory chip 182.

Accordingly, sub-measurement board 10 measures energy usage ofindividual circuits of distribution panel 14. Microprocessor 88 comparesthe one current signal to one of the three voltage signals untilmicroprocessor 88 finds the voltage signal which is connected to thesame individual circuit as the one current signal. Microprocessor 88then calculates the energy usage data and transmits this energy usageload profile to energy information service provider 1. Energyinformation service provider 1 processes the load profile data and poststhe data for access by the customer.

Accordingly, the improved energy information system and sub-measurementboard for use therewith is simplified, provides an effective, safe,inexpensive, and efficient apparatus which achieves all the enumeratedobjectives, provides for eliminating difficulties encountered with priordevices, and solves problems and obtains new results in the art.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity,clearness and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art, because suchterms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadlyconstrued.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by way ofexample, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exactdetails shown or described.

Having now described the features, discoveries and principles of theinvention, the manner in which the improved energy information systemand sub-measurement board for use therewith is constructed and used, thecharacteristics of the construction, and the advantageous, new anduseful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices,elements, arrangements, parts and combinations, are set forth in theappended claims.

1. An energy information system which allows an energy information service provider to measure energy usage by a customer at a location, said system comprising: a sub-measurement board which receives voltage and current signals representative of energy usage at the location, said sub-measurement board outputs a load profile of said energy usage, wherein the sub-measurement board is connected to an energy distribution panel located at the location and receives at least three voltage signals and at least nine current signals from said energy distribution panel, wherein said energy distribution panel includes a display for outputting said energy usage at the location; a wide area communication network connected directly to the sub-measurement board which transfers the load profile to the energy information service provider; a processor located at the energy information service provider which processes the load profile; and wherein said load profile is accessible for remote viewing by the customer.
 2. The system defined in claim 1 wherein the wide area communications network is one of a radio frequency transmitter/receiver, a communication line or a satellite network.
 3. The system defined in claim 1 wherein the sub-measurement board includes a microprocessor which calculates the energy usage of individual circuits of said energy distribution panel at the location.
 4. The system defined in claim 1 wherein the sub-measurement board is connected to an utility meter and receives an utility usage signal therefrom, said sub-measurement board outputting cumulative utility usage information.
 5. The system defined in claim 4 wherein the utility meter is one of an electric meter, water meter or gas meter.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the sub-measurement board is adapted to separately measuring a plurality of loads.
 7. The system as defined in claim 6 wherein the sub-measurement board has a voltage amplifying circuit connected to a plurality of voltage terminals of the energy distribution panel for receiving a plurality of input voltage signals, and said voltage amplifying circuit amplifies the plurality of input voltage signals and outputs a plurality of amplified voltage signals.
 8. An energy information system which allows an energy information service provider to measure energy usage by a customer at a location, said system comprising: a sub-measurement board which receives voltage and current signals representative of energy usage at the location, said sub-measurement board outputs a load profile of said energy usage, wherein the sub-measurement board is connected to an energy distribution panel located at the location and receives at least three voltage signals and at least nine current signals from said energy distribution panel; a wide area communication network connected directly to the sub-measurement board which transfers the load profile to the energy information service provider; a platform located at the energy information service provider which hosts software and databases that enable translation of the load profile from at least one communication protocol into a format that is adapted for processing by the energy information service provider; and wherein said load profile is accessible for remote viewing by the customer.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one communication protocol comprises at least one of a radio frequency signal, a telephone signal, and a satellite signal.
 10. An utility information system which allows an energy information service provider to measure utility usage by a customer at a location, said system comprising: at least two utility meters, the at least two utility meters comprising two of an electric meter, a water meter, and a gas meter; a sub-measurement board which receives voltage and current signals from the at least two utility meters representative of utility usage at the location, said sub-measurement board outputs a load profile of said utility usage, wherein the sub-measurement board is connected to an energy distribution panel located at the location and receives at least three voltage signals and at least nine current signals from said energy distribution panel; a wide area communication network connected directly to the sub-measurement board which transfers the load profile to the energy information service provider; a processor located at the energy information service provider which processes the load profile; and wherein said load profile indicates a cumulative, periodic consumption of a customer's metered utilites.
 11. An energy information system enabling an energy information service provider to measure energy usage of at least one load by at least one customer at a remote location, said system comprising: at least two utility meters, the at least two utility meters comprising two of an electric meter, a water meter, and a gas meter measuring the energy usage by the at least one customer; at least one sub-measurement board which receives input signals from at least one of the at least two utility meters representative of energy usage by the at least one customer, said at least one sub-measurement board outputs a load profile of said energy usage, wherein the sub-measurement board is connected to an energy distribution panel located at the location and receives at least three voltage signals and at least nine current signals from said energy distribution panel; at least one energy distribution connected to the at least one load distributing energy to the at least one load for the energy usage; a wide area communication network connected directly to the sub-measurement board which transfers the load profile to the energy information service provider; a gateway platform system including software and databases that enable translation of the load profile from a plurality of signal protocols received via said wide area communications network from said sub-measurement board into a format that is adapted for processing by the energy information service provider; and a processor located at the energy information service provider which processes the load profile.
 12. An utility information system enabling an energy information service provider to measure utility usage by at least one load of at least one customer at a remote location, said system comprising: at least two utility meters, the at least two utility meters comprising two of an electric meter, a water meter, and a gas meter measuring the utility usage by the at least one customer; at least one sub-measurement board which receives input signals from at least one of the at least two utility meters representative of utility usage by the at least one customer, said at least one sub-measurement board outputs a load profile of said utility usage, wherein the at least one sub-measurement board is connected to an energy distribution panel located at the remote location and receives at least three voltage signals and at least nine current signals from said energy distribution panel; at least one distribution panel connected to the at least one load distributing energy to the at least one load for the utility usage; a wide area communication network responsively connected directly to the at least one sub-measurement board which transfers the load profile to the energy information service provider; and a processor system located at the energy information service provider which processes the load profile.
 13. An energy information system which allows an energy information service provider to measure energy usage by a customer at a location, said system comprising: a sub-measurement board which receives voltage and current signals representative of energy usage at the location, said sub-measurement board outputs a load profile of said energy usage, wherein the sub-measurement board further includes means for receiving at least three voltage signals and at least nine current signals from an energy distribution panel; a wide area communication network connected directly to the sub-measurement board which transfers the load profile to the energy information service provider; a processor located at the energy information service provider which processes the load profile; and wherein said load profile is accessible for remote viewing by the customer.
 14. An energy information system which allows an energy information service provider to measure energy usage by a customer at a location, said system comprising: a sub-measurement board which receives voltage and current signals representative of energy usage at the location, said sub-measurement board outputs a load profile of said energy usage, wherein the sub-measurement board further includes means for receiving at least three voltage signals and at least nine current signals from an energy distribution panel; a wide area communication network connected directly to the sub-measurement board which transfers the load profile to the energy information service provider; a platform located at the energy information service provider which hosts software and databases that enable translation of the load profile from at least one communication protocol into a format that is adapted for processing by the energy information service provider; and wherein said load profile is accessible for remote viewing by the customer.
 15. An utility information system which allows an energy information service provider to measure utility usage by a customer at a location, said system comprising: at least two utility meters, the at least two utility meters comprising two of an electric meter, a water meter, and a gas meter; a sub-measurement board which receives voltage and current signals from the at least two utility meters representative of utility usage at the location, said sub-measurement board outputs a load profile of said utility usage, wherein the sub-measurement board further includes means for receiving at least three voltage signals and at least nine current signals from an energy distribution panel; a wide area communication network connected directly to the sub-measurement board which transfers the load profile to the energy information service provider; a processor located at the energy information service provider which processes the load profile; and wherein said load profile indicates a cumulative, periodic consumption of a customer's metered utilities.
 16. An utility information system enabling an energy information service provider to measure utility usage by at least one load of at least one customer at a remote location, said system comprising: at least two utility meters, the at least two utility meters comprising two of an electric meter, a water meter, and a gas meter measuring the utility usage by the at least one customer; at least one sub-measurement board which receives input signals from at least one of the at least two utility meters representative of utility usage by the at least one customer, said at least one sub-measurement board outputs a load profile of said utility usage, wherein the at least one sub-measurement board further includes means for receiving at least three voltage signals and at least nine current signals from an energy distribution panel; at least one distribution panel connected to the at least one load distributing energy to the at least one load for the utility usage; a wide area communication network responsively connected to the at least one sub-measurement board which transfers the load profile to the energy information service provider; a gateway platform system including software and databases that enable translation of the load profile from a plurality of signal protocols received via said wide area communications network from said at least one sub-measurement board into a format that is adapted for processing by the energy information service provider; and a processor located at the energy information service provider which processes the load profile.
 17. An utility information system enabling an energy information service provider to measure utility usage by at least one load of at least one customer at a remote location, said system comprising: at least two utility meters, the at least two utility meters comprising two of an electric meter, a water meter, and a gas meter measuring the utility usage by the at least one customer; at least one sub-measurement board which receives input signals from at least one of the at least two utility meters representative of utility usage by the at least one customer, said at least one sub-measurement board outputs a load profile of said utility usage, wherein the at least one sub-measurement board further includes means for receiving at least three voltage signals and at least nine current signals from an energy distribution panel; at least one distribution panel connected to the at least one load distributing energy to the at least one load for the utility usage; a wide area communication network responsively connected to the at least one sub-measurement board which transfers the load profile to the energy information service provider; and a processor located at the energy information service provider which processes the load profile. 